[Travel] Travel to Spain

murciagull · 2025-02-23T10:54:28+0000

Has anyone had problems entering Spain for holidays recently? I keep reading about the need to have a letter of invitation to enter Spain, some articles even suggest you have to give bank details, have travel insurance etc. All very confusing. Do you know of anyone denied entry through a lack of this?

Bakero · 2025-02-23T10:57:06+0000

murciagull said:
Has anyone had problems entering Spain for holidays recently? I keep reading about the need to have a letter of invitation to enter Spain, some articles even suggest you have to give bank details, have travel insurance etc. All very confusing. Do you know of anyone denied entry through a lack of this?

I've never heard of anyone having issues. Technically, non-EU tourists could be stopped at the border and asked for things like that but it's highly unlikely that British tourists would encounter such things

Bob! · 2025-02-23T10:59:57+0000

murciagull said:
Has anyone had problems entering Spain for holidays recently? I keep reading about the need to have a letter of invitation to enter Spain, some articles even suggest you have to give bank details, have travel insurance etc. All very confusing. Do you know of anyone denied entry through a lack of this?

If you're going through Gibraltar it's an issue.
Otherwise, not.

Weststander · 2025-02-23T11:09:39+0000

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/can-i-travel-to-spain-from-uk-aaZSk8j2LdPj

Includes some urban myths.

Tom Hark Preston Park · 2025-02-23T11:10:50+0000

hmgov chapter and verse

Entry requirements - Spain travel advice

FCDO travel advice for Spain. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

www.gov.uk

Valencia Seagull · 2025-02-23T11:20:07+0000

I’ve heard the odd comment from people about coming through Gibraltar. I have lived in valencia for two years and no-one I know has had an issue similar to what you’re outlining. If you’re coming on holiday and have a return trip booked you’ll breeze through. If you have no return flight booked they may ask a couple of questions. If they suspect you have no intention of leaving or are coming for the entire allowance of 90 days in one go, have no return trip to y may ask more questions. As I say though, if it’s a holiday then absolutely no problems.

Herr Tubthumper · 2025-02-23T11:41:09+0000

You shouldn’t have any issues unless

1) you are close to, or have exceeded, your Schengen limit
2) you don’t have any unmatched in and out stamps.
3) They don’t like the look of you and border bods are a bit bored.

murciagull · 2025-02-23T11:49:35+0000

Thanks for all your advice, I live in Spain and have friends coming over the end of March who are worried after reading about this.

Peacehaven Wild Kids · 2025-02-23T12:34:16+0000

Sod ‘em. I was verbally abused by some woman in Barcelona last year for simply walking down the street pulling a small case.

I’d like to think I’m quite a good tourist so I thought it was a bit harsh.

Plenty of other places to go in the World that hate us much as the Spanish but keep it to themselves.

Ike and Tina Burner · 2025-02-23T12:59:25+0000

Peacehaven Wild Kids said:
Sod ‘em. I was verbally abused by some woman in Barcelona last year for simply walking down the street pulling a small case.

I’d like to think I’m quite a good tourist so I thought it was a bit harsh.

Plenty of other places to go in the World that hate us much as the Spanish but keep it to themselves.

It's all very bizarre.
"Let's build our entire economy around tourism and then hate them for coming here"
Even the badly behaved Brits stuff is largely their fault. They created these huge party areas in order to flog ridiculous amounts of booze to 18 year olds, basically allowed lawlessness in them and then cried when the obvious happened. If you're gonna offer a free fishbowl to every passing punter then you can't really complain about alcohol fuelled mayhem.

And I say all this as someone who loves and admires Spain/Spanish people/Spanish culture as much as anyone. But they need to get a grip about this stuff.

Bakero · 2025-02-23T14:11:13+0000

Ike and Tina Burner said:
It's all very bizarre.
"Let's build our entire economy around tourism and then hate them for coming here"
Even the badly behaved Brits stuff is largely their fault. They created these huge party areas in order to flog ridiculous amounts of booze to 18 year olds, basically allowed lawlessness in them and then cried when the obvious happened. If you're gonna offer a free fishbowl to every passing punter then you can't really complain about alcohol fuelled mayhem.

And I say all this as someone who loves and admires Spain/Spanish people/Spanish culture as much as anyone. But they need to get a grip about this stuff.

The young family priced out the housing market didn't ask for uncontrolled tourism. Nor did the greengrocer and butcher who've gone out if business due to changing demographics in their neighbourhood. And neither did the granny who is the sole permanent resident of her apartment building as all the other flats are rented to tourists.

You can see why residents are a little peeved when their towns and cities have been taken over. Of course, local and regional governments need to take some of the blame as they chased the tourist dollar and sleepwalked into the current situation. Tourists also need to think about where they go though. There are plenty of towns, cities and villages in Spain that would love a few more visitors.

Herr Tubthumper · 2025-02-23T14:38:39+0000

Ike and Tina Burner said:
It's all very bizarre.
"Let's build our entire economy around tourism and then hate them for coming here"
Even the badly behaved Brits stuff is largely their fault. They created these huge party areas in order to flog ridiculous amounts of booze to 18 year olds, basically allowed lawlessness in them and then cried when the obvious happened. If you're gonna offer a free fishbowl to every passing punter then you can't really complain about alcohol fuelled mayhem.

And I say all this as someone who loves and admires Spain/Spanish people/Spanish culture as much as anyone. But they need to get a grip about this stuff.

I don’t think these are the main issues. What has changed things in recent times is AirBnB. If there‘s only x number of hotel beds in a town, there’s a cap of x number of tourists. Introduce unchecked AirBnB and the number hugely increases to levels which puts a strain on the locals.

Springal · 2025-02-23T14:40:12+0000

I read an article once about how dire it is for locals in Ibiza now, almost impossible to buy somewhere as a local - and rental market is nuts and driven towards landlords maximising the summer market for tourists.

Locals are basically forced to move to mainland Spain or elsewhere for a life.

Herr Tubthumper · 2025-02-23T14:47:45+0000

Springal said:
I read an article once about how dire it is for locals in Ibiza now, almost impossible to buy somewhere as a local - and rental market is nuts and driven towards landlords maximising the summer market for tourists.

Locals are basically forced to move to mainland Spain or elsewhere for a life.

My wife works with a guy who previously worked at a school in Ibiza and lived on the island all year. He said it’s almost impossible to get a “regular” apartment let and it’s not uncommon for people to have to move out and put their items in storage for the summer.

maffew · 2025-02-23T14:53:45+0000

Springal said:
I read an article once about how dire it is for locals in Ibiza now, almost impossible to buy somewhere as a local - and rental market is nuts and driven towards landlords maximising the summer market for tourists.

Locals are basically forced to move to mainland Spain or elsewhere for a life.

Sounds like Brighton

Springal · 2025-02-23T14:56:27+0000

maffew said:
Sounds like Brighton

Not sure it does. Do we have that many tourists renting out houses and flats during the summer

Bakero · 2025-02-23T15:23:33+0000

Herr Tubthumper said:
My wife works with a guy who previously worked at a school in Ibiza and lived on the island all year. He said it’s almost impossible to get a “regular” apartment let and it’s not uncommon for people to have to move out and put their items in storage for the summer.

This practice is common in Almeria too even though there's not much tourism here. Nearly every flat for rent near the beach is a 9-month contract so they can kick you out in the summer.

Edit: I should add this isn't related to British tourists or even foreign tourists. The majority are Spanish. In some cases rich people from places like Madrid who come down for their holidays in August. Worse still are the ones that don't even sublet and just leave it empty for 11 months

Herr Tubthumper · 2025-02-23T15:26:39+0000

Bakero said:
This practice is common in Almeria too even though there's not much tourism here. Nearly every flat for rent near the beach is a 9-month contract so they can kick you out in the summer.

I can totally understand why locals are fed up with tourists.

Dave the OAP · 2025-02-23T15:57:20+0000

Ike and Tina Burner said:
It's all very bizarre.
"Let's build our entire economy around tourism and then hate them for coming here"
Even the badly behaved Brits stuff is largely their fault. They created these huge party areas in order to flog ridiculous amounts of booze to 18 year olds, basically allowed lawlessness in them and then cried when the obvious happened. If you're gonna offer a free fishbowl to every passing punter then you can't really complain about alcohol fuelled mayhem.

And I say all this as someone who loves and admires Spain/Spanish people/Spanish culture as much as anyone. But they need to get a grip about this stuff.

It’s all about air bnb and holiday homes.

like here there is a huge problem with housing for locals and as so many air bnb( owner billionaire now a big buddy with the Fuhrer and his swasticar chum) lie empty for long periods, locals are getting upset

perfectly sensible.

also growth of all inclusive hotels and resorts, many tourists are spending all their time on resorts and not spending money at local restaurants or shops.
a perfect storm

pocketseagull · 2025-02-23T16:05:48+0000

Herr Tubthumper said:
I don’t think these are the main issues. What has changed things in recent times is AirBnB. If there‘s only x number of hotel beds in a town, there’s a cap of x number of tourists. Introduce unchecked AirBnB and the number hugely increases to levels which puts a strain on the locals.

AirBnB started with the idea of people renting out a spare room for tourists. Initially a hobbiest thing but totally destroyed by buy to holiday let and then embraced by AirBnB. Scrap it.

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